PHILIPPINES: PRESIDENT ARROYO ANNOUNCES CANDIDANCY FOR 2004 ELECTIONS, CANDIDATES FILE.

Record ID: 442965

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: PRESIDENT ARROYO ANNOUNCES CANDIDANCY FOR 2004 ELECTIONS, CANDIDATES FILE.
  • Date: 5th January 2004
  • Summary: (W3) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JANUARY 5, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. MV: PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SENATOR AND FORMER NEWS READER, NOLI DE CASTRO, SURROUNDED BY CHEERING SUPPORTERS (2 SHOTS) 0.10 2. GV/PAN/MV/CU: ARROYO AND DE CASTRO RAISING HANDS AND SHOWING THEIR CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY (4 SHOTS) 0.40 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN ABALOS SAYING: "The election fever has begun, this early." 0.46 4. CU/GV: EXTERIOR OF COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS BUILDING (2 SHOTS) 0.53 (W3) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (RECENT) (REUTERS) 5. CU/ZOOM OUT/MV: MOVIE ACTOR FERNANDO POE JR AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SENATOR AND FORMER NEWS READER LOREN LEGARDA FILING CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY (2 SHOTS) 1.14 (W3) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (RECENT) (REUTERS) 6. CU/ZOM/GV: SENATOR AND FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE PANFILO LACSON FILING CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY (2 SHOTS) 1.36 (W3) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (RECENT) (REUTERS) 7. CU/GV: FORMER EDUCATION MINISTER RAUL ROCO FILING CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY (2 SHOTS) 1.52 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th January 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Reuters ID: LVA735REJ2A3S6SGSMYLCOWXYXMW
  • Story Text: Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
    announces her candidancy for 2004 elections.



    Arroyo's quest for a fresh term as Philippine
    president began with a church vigil, a big rally and a trip
    to the election office by Monday's (January 5) deadline as
    alliances shifted at the last minute.

    "Gloria! Gloria!" about 5,000 supporters chanted around
    a makeshift stage after Arroyo spent several pre-dawn hours
    in prayer and at mass at a nearby Roman Catholic cathedral.

    Backed by the money and clout of her administration
    coalition, she pledged to give Filipinos "clean water,
    clean government" as she unveiled the rest of her election
    team.

    The incumbent president has picked Noli de Castro, a
    popular newsreader before he became a senator, as her
    running mate and is campaigning under the slogan "loyalty
    and experience".

    Arroyo's competitors include Fernando Poe Jr, known as
    the John Wayne of the Philippines or simply "FPJ" and "Da
    King", who has enormous recognition value among voters.

    Although Arroyo's reforms have been only
    semi-successful, Poe's lack of political experience has
    raised questions about his ability to run a nation facing
    mounting debts, rampant corruption and security threats
    from rebel groups.

    By picking Loren Legarda as his partner, Poe gets a
    telegenic broadcaster with a solid track record as a
    one-term senator.

    But his decision does not sit well with some supporters
    of Estrada -- Poe's best friend and still an influential
    figure as he stands trial for economic plunder during his
    term in office.

    Panfilo Lacson, a former national police chief who
    accuses Arroyo's husband of graft, lags in polls and has
    yet to pick a partner.

    The wrench in the gears of all the pairings is that
    Filipinos rarely vote for a president and vice president
    running on the same ticket -- a point not lost on
    candidates in an electoral system that stresses
    personalities over policies or parties.

    While hopefuls had until midnight (1600 GMT) on Monday
    to register to run in May, the election commission said
    they could play musical chairs with their parties until
    January 15.


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